Basic Biographical Details

Name: Donald MacDonald Mackie
Designation:  
Born: 30 January 1897
Died: 17 February 1970
Bio Notes: Donald MacDonald Mackie was born on 30 January 1897, the son of Charles Hodge Mackie, artist, and his wife Anne MacDonald Walls. He was educated at Viewpark School, Edinburgh and in France and Italy, spending six years of his childhood in the latter countries. He was articled to Sir Robert Lorimer in Edinburgh in December 1912, studying at Edinburgh College of Art. His training was interrupted by war service which he commenced on 28 July 1915 when he was commissioned in the Royal Engineers. On 30 December that year he proceeded to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, serving in the field with the 52nd Lowland Division in Sinai and Palestine as well as acting as works officer under the Works Directorate in Egypt.

He returned in June 1919 and spent the summer as a pupil to John Ross McKay, whom he had met in Lorimer's office before the war. McKay had returned from war service to rejoin Lorimer as chief assistant, only to leave shortly afterwards following a dispute. Mackie's movements for the remainder of that year and the beginning of the next are unknown, but he spent the last five months of 1920 as a temporary draughtsman in the Survey Department of the Scottish Board of Agriculture before joining the property department of estate agents Knight Frank & Rutley in Edinburgh at the end of the year. He remained with them until May 1922 when he returned to McKay's office as assistant, McKay having by that time joined in partnership with James Smith Richardson at 4 Melville Street. During this period MacKie attended classes in quantity surveying at Heriot-Watt College and lectures at Edinburgh University. In July the following year he made a tour of English cathedrals. He left McKay & Richardson in May 1924 to make a three-month sketching and measuring tour of England, culminating in London where he found employment as a draughtsman to Belcher & Joass. After only three months in that office he returned to Edinburgh to commence practice as a principal at 4 Melville Street; it is unclear whether he shared the office with Richardson & McKay whilst practising independently, or was taken into partnership, although there is no evidence of the firm name having changed to reflect such an arrangement.

Mackie became an Associate of the RIAS in 1925, and in February 1926 moved home and business to Coltbridge Studio, Murrayfield. He exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1929 and was admitted LRIBA on 31 October the following year, his proposers being John James Joass, Thomas Forbes Maclennan and Frank Charles Mears.

Mackie died at the Cottage Hospital, Blairgowrie on 17 February 1970 aged 73 years. His wife Imgard Holzapful (?writing unclear in death register) had predeceased him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Westfield House, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate 1970 
Item 2 of 44, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessDecember 1924February 1926Either shared office with Richardson & McKay, or worked in partnership with them
Item 3 of 4Coltbridge Studios/17, Corstorphine, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessFebruary 1926c. 1938 
Item 4 of 419, Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1939c. 1940 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6(Sir) Robert Stodart LorimerDecember 1912June 1915Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6John Ross McKayJune 1919Late 1919Apprentice 
Item 3 of 6Department of Agriculture for Scotland (later Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland)August 1920December 1920Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 6Richardson & McKayMay 1922May 1924Assistant 
Item 5 of 6Belcher & JoassAugust 1924December 1924Draughtsman 
Item 6 of 6Richardson & McKayDecember 1924(?)February 1926(?)Architect(?)Unclear whether MacKie simply shared the Richardson & McKay office or was taken into partnership

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2John Raymond Bell19281930Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2David Gray KirkAfter 19311932Junior Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John James Joass31 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Thomas Forbes Maclennan31 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3(Sir) Frank Charles Mears31 October 1930for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 31929Merock, Davidson's Mains  EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 31932House at BalernoBalerno MidlothianScotland 
Item 3 of 31933BungalowNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3447 (box 11)